Meter-box.



J. W. BUTTS.

METER BOX. APBLIOATION' FILED JULY 1, 1910.

Patented NOV. 15, 1910.

WITNESSES: Q

ATTORNEY.

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JOEL WINKFIELD BUTTS, OF MONROE, GEORGIA.

METER-BOX.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOEL l VINKFIELD BUTTS, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Monroe, in the county of WValton and State ofGeorgia, have invented certain new,

and useful Improvements in Meter-Boxes; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a partof this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in meter boxes.

The object of the invention is to provide in a meter box constructionmeans which will permit the convenient attaching and detaching of themeter, in a simple and eco nomical manner.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved meter box. Fig.2 is an elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail top plan view of thelower or base portion of my improved meter box, the meter being omitted.Fig. at is a transverse section on the line l-l Fig. 2 the meter andpipe connection being shown in elevation.

The same numerals refer to like parts in all the figures.

1 represents a meter box, which comprises a base 2, provided with anannular flange 3, an intermediate section 1 which is supported on theflange 3, and an upper adjustable section 5. The upper section 5, isprovided at its lower edge with a flange 6, and at its top with anannular seat 7, to receive a cover 8. The said upper section 5, slipsover the upper part of the intermediate section 4, one sectiontelescoping in the other, whereby to adjust the relative height of theboxes.

The base section 2, is provided with an integral bar 9 havingatapproxin'iately its center an inwardly projecting boss 10, formed witha threaded opening 11. The inner face 10 of the boss is beveled at anangle of approximately 45 and is planed to provide a perfectly smoothsurface. Extending from'the sides of the boss are webs 1212, to formsubstantial lateral braces. To one side of the boss 10, extends upwardlya standard 13, having at its upper end an overhanging arm 14, formedwith a threaded Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 1, 1910.

Patented Nov. 15, 1910. Serial No. 569,994.

opening in located over the beveled surface 10 and in which is fitted ascrew 14 On the opposite side of the base section 2, and integraltherewith and in alinement with the boss 10, is a second boss 15, havinga central threaded perforation 16. The inner face of the boss 15 isbeveled to approximately 15 and is planed as indicated at 17, thebeveled surface however being opposite to the beveled surface 10 the twosaid beveled surfaces forming a seat for the meter connections.

Extending up from the section 2, adjacent the boss 15, is a standard 18,having an overhanging arm 19, provided with a threaded opening 20, inwhich is fitted a screw 21, located directly over the beveled surface17.

The numeral 22, indicates conventionally. a meter from the oppositesides of which extend nipples 23 and 24. Screwed to the outer end of thenipple 23, is a boss 25, formed with an opening 25 and provided with aplaned beveled surface 26, corresponding to the angle of the beveledsurface at 10 of the boss 10. On the outer end of the nipple 24 isscrewed a boss 27, having an opening 28, and beveled on its undersurface at 29, to correspond to the beveled surface 17 of the boss 15 adischarge pipe 4L0 is screwed into the outer end of the opening 28 forthe passage of water.

A supply pipe 30, is screwed into the boss 10 and it extends through acut away portion 31, in the base 1. The supply pipe is provided with astop cook 32 to control the flow of water, from the inside of the box.

To install a meter, the latter is placed down in the box with thenipples 23 and 24-, at an angle to the vertical plane of the sup-ply anddischarge pipes 30 and 40, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 to permitthe bosses 25 and 27 to be turned under the overhanging arms 1 1 and 19.hen the meter is positioned at substantially the same level as the arms14 and 19 it is given a slight turn to bring the beveled surfaces 10 and17 of the bosses 25 and 27 into alinement with the beveled surfaces 10and 17 of the bosses 10 and 15. Between the beveled surfaces are gaskets35-35 to form tight joints. After the beveled surfaces have beenproperly positioned the screws 14 and 21, are screwed down tight on theupper surfaces of the bosses 25 and 27, and as the beveled surfaces ofall the bosses are of the same angle a tight and absolutely secure jointis made between the connections. The meter having been positioned thecock 32 is turned and the whole apparatus is ready for use.

To remove the meter the operation of installing is reversed.

Obviously by the construction described, I have provided a simple andeffective means for quickly and conveniently installing or removing ameter. Inasmuch as I dispense with threaded connections between thepipes and meter, I am enabled to provide a meter box of much lessdiameter than boxes now "in use. This is due to the fact that themechanic in assembling or taking down the parts does not have to getdown under the pipes to secure the same to the meter.

I desire it to be understood that I may dispense with the specific formof meter box, if found convenient, as my invention resides moreparticularly in the connection between the meter and the support.

By constructing the connections as described, the water is permitted tohave a straight passage through the meter box, thus avoiding liabilityof crevices or seats for the accumulation of sediment or foreignsubstances.

lVhat I claim is 1. In an apparatus of the class described, thecombination of a supporting base pro vided with bosses having theirfaces oppositely beveled, a meter having connections provided withbosses having their faces beveled to correspond with and registering'with the beveled surfaces of the bosses, and

screws bearing on the bosses of the meter connections to clamp all thebosses together, all the bosses having registering openings.

2. In an apparatus of the class described the combination with a basesupport, a meter, a connection between the base support and the meterincluding castings having their adjacent faces oppositely beveled, andmeans for clamping the castings to form a tight joint between thebeveled surfaces.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a basesupport, a bar extending across the base support and provided with anopening, the inner surface of the bar adjacent the opening beingbeveled, the supporting base having a member provided with a beveledsurface in alinement with the beveled surface on the base support, thebase support having an opening adjacent the beveled clement thereon, ameter having members provided with beveled surfaces which correspondwith the beveled surfaces on the base support, standards formed withthreaded openings, and screws engaging the threaded openings and adaptedto clamp the meter to the support to effect a tight joint between thebeveled surfaces.

l. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a basesupport, provided with openings, the surfaces of the metal adjacent theopenings being beveled, an arm adjacent each beveled surface, each armbe ing formed with a threaded opening in alinement with the beveledsurfaces, a meter provided with members having beveled surfaces whichcorrespond with the beveled surfaces on the base support, screwsengaging the threaded openings in the arms and adapted to clamp thebeveled surfaces together to form a tight joint.

5. In an apparatus of the class described the combination with a curbbox made in sections, the lowermost section forming a base, and formedwith a casting having an opening and a beveled surface adjacent't-heinner end of the opening, a standard having its upper end extending overthe plane of the beveled surface and provided with a threaded opening, apipe fitted in the outer end of the opening in the casting, a stop cockin the pipe, a boss extending from the base section and having anopening, a pipe communicating with the latter opening, the inner face ofthe boss adjacent the opening being beveled opposite to the bevel of thesurface on the casting, an overhanging arm adjacent the boss, said armhaving a threaded opening, a meter provided with bosses having beveledsurfaces which correspond with the beveled surfaces on the base, andscrews engaging the threaded openings and the bosses 011 the meter tohold said meter in the meter box.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOEL VVINKFIELD BUTTS.

Witnesses H. B. l/VILLIAMSON, J. IV. MoGAUeI-IEY.

